Cross Safe launched for 2014
Awareness lectures to be held at various labourers’ accomodations
Dubai: As part of its continued efforts to reduce traffic deaths, the Dubai Police Traffic Department, in collaboration with The Ministry of Labour, launched its annual Cross Safe campaign that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of jaywalking.
The campaign primarily targets labourers as they are the victims of most pedestrian run-over accidents, said Lt Col Juma Salem Bin Suweidan, Director of the Events and Parades Department at Dubai Police.
Half of the road victims are either Indians or Pakistanis.
With 45 pedestrian deaths in 378 run-over accidents in 2013 and 55,206 fines issued for crossing from undesignated areas in Bur Dubai and Deira areas alone in 2013, jaywalking continues to be a problem, police said.
Lt Col Bin Suweidan said the campaign wants to reach the maximum number of workers, and so they are working with the ministry as they have records of all workers and companies that hire them.
Eisa Al Zarouni, Manager of the Inspection Department at the ministry, said there will be nine individual campaigns coordinated by the ministry, where Dubai Police officials will lecture the workers about correct ways to cross the road and the dangers of crossing from undesignated areas. They will also distribute brochures and reflective jackets.
Three lectures will be held at labour accommodations in Muhaisnah 2, three in Al Quoz and three in Jebel Ali, Al Zarouni said.
“We are targeting companies that have more than 1,000 labourers … in the areas where the lectures will take place there are over 300,000 labourers.”
Lt Col Bin Suweidan said there is a vehicle fully equipped with roll-up banners, brochures, projectors, etc.
The mobile unit includes a trailer that has a lecture hall and can accommodate around 40 workers. It also has a 52-inch plasma screen and a projector as well as a screen fixed on the outside of the trailer with external speakers. It was launched by the ministry in 2012.
He said there are brochures in six different languages: English, Arabic, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam.
“We have had companies request these lectures for their workers. We even lectured at government departments who requested we speak to their employees. Any company or organisation can request a lecture, by sending an official letter to Dubai Police,” Lt Col Bin Suweidan said.
